Article (13)
Publication and Entry into Force
This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the day
following the date of its publication.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister
Issued by us:
On: 30 Dhu al-Qi 'dah 1441 A.H.
Corresponding to: 21 July 2020 A.D.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 13
Annex No. (1)
Attached to Cabinet Resolution No. (52) of 2020
Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System
Standard Principles Indicators Mandatory Requirements
1. Planning
and
Management
System
1-1 Operational
Management
Maintaining or
enhancing the
social, economic,
and
environmental
viability of the
operation.
a. Business
Management
The Operator shall
maintain a business
strategy aligned with
financial planning, and
social and environmental
responsibilities.
1. The existence of a valid plan that
considers supply, demand, and price
fluctuations.
2. The Operator or Supplier shall
identify potential commercial
and/or financial risks.
3. The existence of a plan to manage
commercial and/or financial risks.
b. Farm Management
To meet sustainable supply
and demand, the Operator
shall improve the
utilization and exploitation
of land, and the
management of animal
and plant production, and
natural resources, where
applicable.
1. The existence of a plan for the
utilization and exploitation of land,
the management of animal and
plant production, and the rational
management of natural resources.
2. The Farm Management Plan shall be
aligned with local and federal
requirements (particularly the
legislative and regulatory
framework) for water, soil, waste,
and biodiversity conservation.
3. Periodic assessment of the land's
production potential and resource
management shall be conducted at
least once a year to determine
whether improvements can be made
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 14
to production and resource
management.
4. The Operator shall continuously
assess potential sustainable
improvements for the utilization of
land, animal and plant production,
and resource management.
5. The Operator shall comply with the
applicable Sustainable Agriculture
practices.
c. Site Selection
Communities near the site
of the Establishment shall
not be adversely affected
by agricultural activities,
and the site shall not be
located near any hazards
that cannot be eliminated
or mitigated.
6. The Operator shall adhere to a
mechanism designed to prevent any
adverse impacts of agricultural
activities on local communities.
1-2 Trade
Enhancement
Conducting the
procurement of
raw materials,
equipment, and
services, and the
lawful sale of
Products.
a. Business Conduct
Trade in Products shall be
carried out in a fair and
honest manner that fosters
trust among stakeholders
(including consumers).
1. No judicial rulings shall have been
issued against the Operator in the
past (3) three years in connection
with fraud, unethical conduct, or
other illicit business practices.
2. Sales of the Product shall not exceed
the volume of the harvested crop.
3. The Operator shall conduct an
annual review (or more frequently if
necessary) to monitor and improve
business practices.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 15
b. Inventory
Management
The inventory of inputs,
equipment, and
production tools shall be
monitored.
1. An active inventory management
system shall be available.
2. A mechanism shall be available to
monitor production requirements,
storage risks, cash flow, stock
availability, cost of ordering
individual items, delay costs, and
holding costs when setting ordering
cycles.
3. Stock levels of inputs shall be
sufficient to meet the needs of the
operation until the next ordering
cycle.
4. Stock levels of inputs shall not
exceed the operational
requirements until the subsequent
ordering cycle.
1-3 Creating
direct and
indirect job
opportunities
Promoting
economic and
social stability in
the State by
supporting local
companies and the
workforce.
a. Emiratization
At least (50%) of the
production cost shall be
incurred in the State. This
includes, for example, but
not limited to: labor, input,
equipment, logistical
services, and marketing.
5. Availability of a procurement
statement.
6. Availability of employee records.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 16
1-4 Legal
Compliance
The Operator and
the Supplier shall
comply with all
relevant local and
international laws
and regulations.
a. The Operator and the
Supplier shall
demonstrate
compliance with all
relevant legal
requirements related
to agriculture and food
safety.
1. The Operator's understanding of
and compliance with all relevant
laws regarding agricultural
production and food safety.
2. The Operator's retention of all
relevant documents detailing
compliance with the legislation.
3. Obtaining the necessary permits and
licenses.
4. No judicial violations against the
Operator and the Supplier in the past
(3) three years.
1-5 Sustainable
System
Governance
Verifying the
integrity of the
Sustainable
Production System
by maintaining
accurate and
comprehensive
records.
a. The Operator shall
maintain records
related to employees,
cultivated crops, crop
yields, production
processes, inputs,
equipment, and all
other areas necessary
to prove compliance
with this standard.
1. The existence of a clear mechanism
for traceability of operations.
2. Maintaining records for at least two
years.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 17
2.
Environmental
Management
2-1
Environmental
Systems
Maintaining and
protecting the
quality of existing
ecological systems
through
Sustainable
Agriculture.
a. Ecological System
Management
Maintaining and
enhancing existing
ecological systems through
Sustainable Agriculture.
1. The Operator shall identify the
impacts of agricultural activities on
existing natural ecological systems.
2. The Operator shall minimize the
impacts of agricultural activities on
existing natural ecological systems
to the greatest extent possible.
3. The Operator shall conduct an
environmental impact assessment
when cultivating virgin lands.
4. The Operator shall comply with
national environmental law and
biodiversity management.
5. The Operator shall annually review
the impacts of agricultural activities
on existing natural ecological
systems.
6. No land clearance or topsoil removal
during the past five years.
7. No land clearance for production or
agricultural activities involving the
burning of plants or crop residues.
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b. Protection of
Threatened Plant
Species
The existence of measures
to protect threatened plant
species.
1. Taking measures to prevent or
reduce the degradation of
threatened and protected plant
species and varieties within the
operation, and establishing the
necessary mechanisms to support
the long-term survival of such
species and varieties.
2. Farm management practices shall
contribute to the conservation of
threatened and protected plant
species and varieties.
3. No activities related to threatened
and protected plant species shall be
carried out unless a permit is
obtained from the Competent
Authorities.
c. Invasive and Alien
Plant Species
The existence of measures
to control or eradicate the
spread of invasive and
alien plant species.
4. Identification of alien plant species
present in the operation in terms of
classification, name, density,
characteristics, potential risks, and
the required procedure.
5. Eradication of invasive and alien
plant species (or control thereof as
appropriate) using suitable methods
for the specific species concerned
and the environment in which they
grow.
6. No importation of invasive and alien
plant species shall be permitted
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 19
unless evidence of a legal
justification for doing so is provided.
d. Threatened and
Endangered Wildlife
Taking measures to protect
threatened and
endangered wildlife, and
identifying wildlife species
that are threatened and
endangered with
extinction within the
operation and listed in the
(protected area).
1. Identification of wildlife species
threatened with extinction.
2. Protection of wildlife and species
threatened with extinction using
appropriate methods suitable to the
specific species concerned and the
environment in which they live.
3. No threatening, hunting, accessing,
trading, dealing in, exporting, killing,
capturing, possessing in captivity,
physically controlling, transporting,
breeding, poisoning, or exposing
wildlife and species threatened with
extinction to any other illegal
activity, and the establishment of
deterrent legislation to prevent such
acts.
e. Protecting wildlife
corridors
Protecting and
maintaining wildlife
corridors.
1. Identification of wildlife corridors.
2. Protection of existing wildlife
corridors.
3. Creation or rehabilitation of wildlife
corridors when necessary to
facilitate wildlife movement.
4. Verification of the effectiveness of
wildlife corridors in facilitating
wildlife movement.
5. No use of wildlife corridors for
economic activities, except for
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ecotourism when a valid permit is
obtained.
f. Buffer Zones
Buffer zones shall be
established and
maintained to prevent or
reduce potential
contamination of crops
pollutants, and to protect
areas of high conservation
value.
1. Protection of buffer zones on a
continuous basis.
2. Establishment of new buffer zones
and restoration of existing ones
when necessary.
3. Verification of the effectiveness of
buffer zones in mitigating the
adverse impacts of production
activities.
4. No use of buffer zones for economic
activities.
g. Land Conservation
Land shall be conserved
and rehabilitated when
necessary.
1. Surveying the land at least annually
to identify areas of degradation.
2. Developing a remedial action plan.
2-2 Biodiversity
Sustainable
Agriculture
practices shall be
applied to support
the survival of
diverse
populations of
species.
a. Conservation of the
existing natural
ecosystem.
1. The Operator shall take measures to
promote biodiversity through the
conservation of the existing natural
ecosystem, the restoration of
degraded lands, the preservation of
natural grasses, the practice of
conservation tillage, and effective
soil management.
2. The existence of sustainable
measures to reduce the adverse
impacts of fires when burning is
necessary.
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2-3 Soil
Sustainable
Agricultural
methods for the
conservation and
improvement of
soil.
a. Soil Management
Soil quality shall be
maintained and enhanced.
1. Assessment of soil condition at least
once per season, in terms of its
ability to retain water, store and
preserve minerals, facilitate the
natural flow and infiltration of water,
and resist erosion.
2. No hazardous or illegal substances
shall have been added to the soil
during the past five years.
3. Analysis of nutrient content and pH
level shall be conducted at least once
every five years, or when changes
occur in crop types or general
conditions, to assess the need to
adjust the quantity, levels, and
composition of fertilizer and/or
manure.
b. Soil Erosion
Operators shall take
effective and appropriate
measures to prevent soil
erosion and reduce topsoil
loss.
1. The Operator shall identify areas of
fragile soil.
2. The Operator shall identify factors
contributing to soil erosion, such as:
livestock grazing and movement,
strong winds, heavy rainfall, water
runoff, soil composition, and land
slope.
3. Assessment of soil condition on a
continuous basis.
4. Adoption of proactive measures to
ensure soil conservation, especially
when it is fragile.
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2-4 Climate
Change
Sustainable
agricultural
methods are
characterized by
resilience to the
effects of climate
change.
a. The operator shall
address and adapt to
potential climatic
changes that may
affect production by
enhancing resilience
and reducing exposure
to climate change.
1. Identification of climate change and
potential risks.
2. Existence of plans to adapt to any
environmental changes arising from
climate change risks that may affect
production.
3. Review of climate change-related
plans annually.
2-5 Water
Water is
recognized as a
priceless resource
on which all life
depends.
a. Water Rights
The water rights of local
and indigenous
communities shall be
respected.
1. Water sharing management.
2. Ongoing assessment of water
supplies for the local community.
3. Taking measures to mitigate any
negative impacts of production
activities on the water supplies of
the local community.
b. Water Quality
Managing water resources
to conserve or improve
water quality.
1. Water shall be suitable for its
intended use.
2. The amount of Escherichia coli (E.
coli) in water used for irrigation shall
be (undetectable or zero), and the
level of thermotolerant fecal
coliform bacteria in water shall not
exceed (10/100 ml).
3. Water shall be tested by an
accredited laboratory for microbial
and chemical pollutants within the
past 12 months.
4. Taking corrective measures
whenever a contaminated water
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 23
source is identified, to adjust the
water quality to make it suitable for
the intended use.
5. Treatment of wastewater and/or
surface runoff containing chemical
or metallic pollutants, recycling, or
proper disposal thereof.
6. Farm waste shall not be discharged
into water courses.
7. Water shall not be contaminated
with raw sewage, treated, or recycled
wastewater.
8. Developing plans to treat water
pollution during emergencies.
9. In the case of animal enclosures,
rainwater runoff shall not be
directed from the enclosures to
water sources.
10. In the case of animal enclosures,
rainwater runoff shall be directed
from the enclosures to the liquid
waste management system.
c. Water Consumption
Efficiency
Water resources shall be
managed to maintain
optimal water reserves.
1. Identifying and monitoring water
resources (including surface and
groundwater).
2. The operator shall improve water
efficiency over time through specific
measures.
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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding Emirates Sustainable Agriculture Label System 24
3. Obtaining valid licenses and/or
permits for water extraction when
necessary.
4. Proper management of local rainfall,
storage, distribution, and treatment
conditions.
5. Water resources (including surface
and groundwater) shall not be
exploited or depleted without
rationalization.
6. Detecting and mitigating the
impacts of water extraction where
possible.
7. Existence of measures to protect
water courses.
8. Waterways shall not be obstructed.
9. The natural flow of the watercourse
shall not be altered.
10. Taking measures to preserve and/or
restore appropriate riparian buffer
zones.
11. Irrigation systems shall be
maintained and periodically
inspected to ensure that their
operations align with design
specifications and to prevent or
repair leaks.
12. The operator shall not dredge, dig,
submerge, or remove soil, sand, or
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rocks exceeding (5) cubic meters
from the waterway.
2-6 Energy
Rationalizing the
use of non-
renewable energy
and promoting the
use of renewable
energy resources.
a. The operator shall
ensure the
implementation of
energy efficiency
practices at all stages of
the production
process, and shall
monitor